Species profile
Great Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna mokarran
At a glance
Great Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna mokarran) is an IUCN Critically Endangered shark or ray regulated in 7 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Bag limits are uniform at 1 per angler across the 6 regulating jurisdictions.
Across 5 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 82.2 in (≈ 6 ft 10 in).
Confirmed by 67 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Listed under CITES — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Great hammerheads are the largest hammerhead species, reaching lengths of up to 20 feet.
- Their flattened head contains dense clusters of electroreceptors that detect prey buried in the seafloor.
- They frequently eat stingrays, and have been found with stingray barbs embedded in their mouths.
- Eyes positioned at the tips of their hammer give them nearly 360-degree vertical vision.
- Great hammerheads are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
Where Great Hammerhead Shark are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Great Hammerhead Shark
Protected status
- CITES Appendix II (Sphyrnidae — all hammerheads, CoP17+CoP19).
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) is the largest species of hammerhead shark, belonging to the family Sphyrnidae, attaining a maximum length of 6.1 m (20 ft). It is found in tropical and warm temperate waters worldwide, inhabiting coastal areas and the continental shelf.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Great Hammerhead Shark article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other sharks & rays on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.